The Enfield under 16’s are no angels but they are at least rugby stars, for now, at the top of the Herts Middlesex Junior League Division 3 tree at Christmas after a resounding win at Saracens. Enfield scored 11 tries, played some scintillating rugby supported by robust and relentless defence to run out 63-12 winners on Sunday ensuring it was a holly jolly Christmas for the under 16s.

The lads visited Saracens B with both sides having won their first three league games of the season. Something had to give, but we were not expecting such a joyful and triumphant win for the boys in blue and gold at Bramley Road, the former home of the three time European champions!

Coach Corky commented that one of the biggest changes this season has been how the team has started contests. And like the previous league game Vs Harrow the start was sensational! Harry’s kick off went long and delightfully into touch. Saracens lost the resulting line out close to their line. From a scrum the backs then span it through their hands wide across all of the back line for Ciaran to score in the corner! Patrick made the best conversion of the day from the touchline for the perfect start. 7-0 3mins.

After a series of well contested scrums Enfield scored their second on 12 minutes. It was a great try with Cian making two runs, a sumptuous inside pass from Ollie G to Donal and then Patrick stepped into Christmas and scored in the corner. Superb. 12-0. 11mins. Immediately from the re-start the lads span the ball wide to the right. Centres Ollie G and Donie slipped in Sammy. A big attempted tackle on Sammy was missed, he then gave the next defender a hand off and ran to the line to score. Patrick converted and it was 19-0 after 13 mins. The away crowd were already rocking around the Christmas tree!

The next period was testing as well as decisive. After spilling both a restart and then possession a phase or so later we were camped on our own line. The big Sarries side tried the physical route to score but were met with great resistance. The big lads upfront including Teddy having his best game for the club alongside Peter, Daniel, Altamash, Hayden and the rest of the pack stood firm all day. A few hairy moments ensued but our line was not breached. Henry and Ollie S led the forwards in making countless tackles to prevent the home side from scoring, setting up a rather blue Christmas for Saracens.

Enfield surged further ahead with a breakaway try. A tackle as rare as a white Christmas from George dislodged the ball from Saracens. We broke out wide to Patrick. Due to brilliant support running from Donie and Sammy, Patrick was able to calmly sell a dummy before putting Sammy in to finish. Last Christmas at Upminster Patrick gave Sammy his pass but on the very next play the speedster gave it away. This year, to save the full back from tears he gave it to someone special. (The tryline). 24-0 21mins.

Minutes later we had another. This time Harry brilliantly rucked over after Patrick was tackled to allow his half back partner George to pick up unopposed and scamper over the line to score. 29-0. 27mins. Rumour has it even his mother saw the try but couldn’t stay another day and missed his sliced attempt at a touchline finder in the second half. She would have made excuses for him saying ‘baby it’s cold outside’ perhaps.

The next Ignatians score was the team try of the afternoon. Simply the most wonderful time of the game. Virtually all the team had their hands on the ball as the team attacked from left to right with Matteo bursting through before the backs returned to the opposite side for Cian, simply having a wonderful Christmas time providing the finishing touch. 34-0

The final score of the half came through a penalty try. Credit must go to the defensive efforts of the team. Throughout the game they were fast off the line, hungry and resolute to stop the opposition. They were relentless. And this defensive line led to a spillage on the Saracens 22. George booted the loose ball forward and Ollie G darted through to score, only denied by a tackle off the ball. A penalty try was justly awarded and accompanied by a yellow card for the Saracens' winger. It was 41-0 at half time and time to god rest ye merry gentlemen.

20 minutes of the second half was played without a score. Enfield’s oh come all ye faithful away support cheered on good runs from Chenitha and Hayden and a chip and chase from Ollie S as the team went close to scoring. But it was our hosts who deservedly got on the scoresheet. After countless attacks eventually the Sarries 10 saw some space, making a sleigh ride glide into the right hand corner and scoring with an ‘Ash splash’ finish. 41-5. 56 mins.

Enfield responded. A bizarre looking backwards kick from George to keep the ball in the play actually created a try scoring opportunity. The ball sent back from the crowd of players on the right created depth for the attack to come back to the left where Patrick’s shimmering run did the rest to score. The lads were back in winter wonderland! 46-5 60mins.

Saracens were however more dogged in the second half. Against a tiring Enfield who looked like they had run 2000 miles, waves of an attack pinned Enfield in their 22. We lost our own line out and the ball was fed to the left. A couple of tackles were missed and a Saracens lad who looked like he was driving home for Christmas, pulled over to score. 46-12 64mins.

David A who had a terrific afternoon, like most of the team, turned creator of the next try. The powerful prop ripped the ball. Saracens couldn’t stop the cavalry. After yet another powerful run he offloaded perfectly for Sammy to set off and score in the corner. The speedster had completed a hat trick and a performance in stark contrast to his injury woes last Christmas at Upminster. 51-12. 66mins.

There was still time for two more tries! Firstly a lovely break from a scrum saw Josh run, then dummy before passing to Chenitha to score out wide 56-12. 69mins. Then in the last minute, the classy centre, Josh showed his strength. Despite the attention of three defenders he scored his own try underneath the tree! 63-12. FT

After this performance the coaches must have been wishing it was Christmas everyday after such a barnstorming, festive display. As ever we must point out that it was the incredibly committed defence, not limited to the back 5 of the likes of Ollie S, Liam S, Hayden, Henry and Cian which stopped the Saracens attack. Coach Alfie said the boys put in a huge effort and expected a silent night from them after this game. Those not at the match would be surprised to know that Saracens probably had more possession in the game. But the Enfield defence was too good and the backline attacks simply devastating with pace, handling and a unique understanding. And on that, a last word on today’s backline of 7. Today’s starting 7 featured 6 lads who have been at the club since they were 5 years old. (And there are others of similar vintage in the squad too). It’s that commitment, familiarity and bond that took Enfield to the top of the league at Christmas. Well done lads.

Thanks to an excellent referee organised by Saracens and of course thank you to our hosts for their hospitality and a contest played in good spirit and we wish them well for the rest of their season. It really was the Fairytale of Bramley Road. Brilliant to see a number of lads who trained at Enfield earlier in the morning cheering on their squad mates too. We wish all at Enfield Ignatians a happy holiday. Merry Christmas Everyone.